Resistance to clover scorch disease (Kabatiella caulivora) among accessions of purple clover (Trifolium purpureum) and its relationship to the eco-geography of collection sites

Abstract

Visual ratings of disease reaction to a mixture of races 1 and 2 of clover scorch (Kabatiella caulivora) were conducted on inoculated field plots of 206 accessions of Trifolium purpureum (191 var. purpureum and 15 var. pamphyllicum) collected from the Mediterranean basin and surrounding regions. Disease severity scores of the resistant check, cv. Denmark subterranean clover (T. subterraneum), were clearly differentiated from the susceptible check, cv. Paratta purple clover. Nearly 33% of the accessions were resistant to both races. Resistant plants tended to flower later and originate from higher latitudes, where K. caulivora is more widespread. The results of this investigation led to development of ELECTRA™, the first cultivar of purple clover with resistance to both races of K. caulivora.